FREE STATE & EMPIRE.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18661, 13 June 1932, Page 7

FREE STATE & EMPIRE.

NO COMPROMISE. FREE STATE AT OTTAWA. AT SERIOUS DISADVANTAGE. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. LONDON, June 11. As Mr De Valera boarded a mall steamer at Liverpool for Dublin, he refused to make a statement regard-, ing the conversations with British Ministers, beyond saying he had enjoyed himself, and adding: "One always does enjoy a little trip . like this.” The Daily Telegraph’s political contributor says: "The Irish spokesman had the lion’s share of the discussions. He had prepared an elaborate brief, the reading of which occupied most of the morning session. His statement contained no hint of compromise or concession. "The position as regards the Ottawa Conference remains exactly the same. The British Government has no alternative but to refuse to enter into further agreements with the Irish Free State. Thus there can be no agreement regarding preferences. Southern Ireland, consequently, will be placed at a serious disadvantage at Ottawa compared with the other Dominions. The disagreement extended to all points—the oath, the land annuities and the partition of Ireland.” The Morning Post’s political correspondent describes the Downing Street conference as one of the greatest hoaxes to which any British Government has been subjected In recent yearsIt is understod, says the writer, that the utmost length to which the British G&vernment was prepared to go was the submission of any legal documents in regard to which there were differences of interpretation, to Independent arbitration. The Times says:“There can be no change in the attitude of the British Government while Mr De Valera maintains his present standpoint.”